கண்டனம்...!

 Press Meet...!

I'll just add that the RTI Act was a milestone in the trajectory of India to be a modern democracy—to bring transparency in administration and to empower the citizens and activists.

With a single stroke, the Modi government has done away with the RTI. This will have far-reaching implications for the freedom of the press.

I will urge my friends in the media to have a look at the JPC report of 2019. Many of the provisions that have been brought in are contrary to the JPC recommendations. Even the Digital Data Protection Board has given recommendations on how the members need to be appointed, such as the inclusion of the Attorney General to make sure due diligence is followed. But nothing of that has been incorporated into the law.

This law was rushed when the Opposition was protesting the Manipur crisis. The government intended to bid goodbye to the RTI. Not just RTI, many of the UPA-era laws that transformed governance are being watered down today by the Modi government.

All the INDIA alliance parties have come together to protest this, as there will be far-reaching implications for the freedom of media and the democratic process of the nation.

Therefore, I'd urge the media to go through the law and highlight these issues in the interest of the public and the freedom of the press and democracy.

: JohnBrittas ji, (CPI-M)